Disovery Ball

Legendary flying machines--from the Wright glider to the Gemini and Mercury spacecrafts--and the stories of the daring men who flew them will be featured in the new Air & Space Gallery at California Science Center in Exposition Park.

Originally known as Aerospace Hall, a part of the former California Museum of Science and Industry, the building has been closed since 1998 for a renovation designed by Frank Gehry.

The gallery, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is scheduled to open to the public March 9. But last weekend, more than 600 center supporters paid $400 for a sneak preview of the new venue at “Flight of Fancy,” the annual Discovery Ball, which marked the center’s fourth anniversary.

Space traveler Dennis Tito was the guest of honor at the black-tie event, which raised more than $350,000. Tito, who spent $20 million to join an eight-day Russian Soyuz taxi mission to the International Space Station last April, told the sold-out audience that his childhood hobby, building model airplanes, kindled his lifelong interest in aerospace.

“Children are like sponges. Impressions that they get stay with them for the rest of their lives,” he said. “Space will always be my passion, and for the rest of my life I’m going to share my experiences with kids to get them focused on dreams. Anything is possible in this country.”

Among attendees were former Gov. Pete Wilson and current first lady Sharon Davis, who spoke on her husband’s behalf: “Gray had to attend another event. But I hope the fact that he allotted $19 million in the state budget for the center will make up for it.”

Arriving guests walked through a pathway of faux fog, where they were offered “star” martinis before touring exhibits. The concrete and metal building, 75 feet tall, displays spacecraft and other means of flight suspended in a huge open space. The multilevel gallery has four main areas: Air and Aircraft, Humans in Space, Mission to the Planets, Stars and Telescopes.

Attractions include a bicycle ride across a high wire spanning the gallery balcony--Riverside Police Chief Russ Leach was among brave souls who took a spin.

George Pla and Lon Rosenberg co-chaired the dinner committee, which included Sharon Allen, Marvin Elkin, Joseph T. Forgatch, Victor Franco, Karen MacDonald, Ezekiel Pattern Jr., Dean Scarborough and Jill Sheffield. --Patt Diroll

Ice Capades

In a Broadway-style production that mixed comedy with song and dance, Bob Newhart joined Christopher Reeve on stage at the Front & Center benefit that netted $100,000 for scholarships at Cal State Fullerton. Appearing before thousands of fans at the Pond in Anaheim--750 of them at a black-tie dinner staged atop the hockey rink, 3,600 in the stands--the two were given personalized musical introductions by members of the university’s theater and dance department. “I never thought anybody could do my name for six minutes. I never thought anybody would want to hear my name for six minutes,” Newhart quipped.

Observed Reeve: “I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. The music, the original lyrics--wonderful!”

And then Reeve, paralyzed from the neck down almost seven years ago, told the crowd how he had found the courage to go on living. “I took inventory of what I had left,” he said. “And I realized it was a luxury to have a body that works--but that you are not any less of a person as long as you have a heart, a brain and a soul.”

Honored at the Feb. 2 festivities were members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Orange County’s law enforcement and emergency personnel, who were presented with the university’s Front & Center Award. Henry T. Nicholas III, president and CEO of Broadcom Corp., received the Titan Award. --Ann Conway

City Hearts

Jane Seymour and James Keach opened their Malibu home for the fifth annual Truffle Dinners to benefit City Hearts. The organization, founded by attorneys Sherry and Bob Jason, offers disadvantaged children exposure to the performing and visual arts in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Montblanc sponsored the two nights of feasts of Perigord truffle-themed dishes created by noted chefs: On Feb. 2, Joachim Splichal held forth in the kitchen, and on Feb. 3, chef Rolland Passot of San Francisco’s La Folie prepared the eight-course menu. Sample dishes? Foie gras with ham and truffle salad; scrambled eggs with truffles; sea bass with truffle and butternut squash risotto. For dessert? Caramelized apple galette and truffle ice cream. All was complemented with Moet et Chandon champagne and Melville Estate wines.

Reservations at $375 were sold out well in advance for both nights. Event chairwoman Shannon Swanson Binder said $105,000 was raised for City Hearts programs. Event planners Tony Schubert and John Paul Lorello of Event Eleven made sure sofas were moved into a large screening room for fans to catch the final minutes of the Super Bowl before joining the party, staged in a transparent tent overlooking the ocean.

The Sunday night crowd included City Hearts President Liane Weintraub and her husband, Richard. Also, Karsten Martens of Montblanc, Jane Donaldson, Bruce Davidson, Eloise and John Paul Dejoria, Esther and Rick Rosenfield, Daphna and Eduardo Ziman, Alyce Williamson, Jennifer and Royce Diener, Bill Norris and Jane Jelenko. --P.D.

Schwartz Tribute

In introducing his longtime friend Stephen Schwartz at an event in his honor, host Jason Alexander laid it on the line: “He is a writer, director, teacher, composer and performer. And he’s taking jobs away from literally hundreds of people!”

“Extraordinary!” was presented by the Musical Theatre Guild and the foundation of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) on Monday at the Pasadena Playhouse as a tribute to Schwartz’s prolific career and his work nurturing young talent.

By 1976, at age 28, Schwartz had become the first composer-lyricist to have three shows on Broadway at the same time: “Godspell,” “Pippin” and “The Magic Show.”

Among the performers who turned out for the tribute were John Rubinstein (the original “Pippin” on Broadway); Maureen McGovern, Teri Ralston, James Mellon, Kevin Bailey, Karen Morrow, Kirsten Benton, Marsha Kramer, Lenny Wolpe, Teri Bibb, Liz Callaway, Eileen Barnett, Jeffrey Polk, Kevin McMahon and Stephanie J. Block, who sang “Defying Gravity,” from Schwartz’s new musical based on the early life of the Wicked Witch of the West.

After the finale (“Day by Day” from “Godspell”) guests walked over to the California School of Culinary Arts for a reception with the cast. There, writer-director Paris Barclay praised Schwartz’s dedication to the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop, which promotes new writing talent for the musical theater. “I’m really proud to salute Stephen,” said Barclay. “You can always write great musicals, but to dedicate yourself, year after year, to helping others write them is quite extraordinary.” --P.D.

Star Turn

Following the opening Tuesday of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, cast members joined with center donors to celebrate at a jazz-and-food filled party at Maggiano’s restaurant in Costa Mesa.

Keeping a low-profile at the event was the star of the show, Ann-Margret, who made a quiet entrance and dined with husband Roger Smith in a private room. Playing the role of Miss Mona, the madam of a chicken ranch brothel, marks the star’s first stage appearance in a musical. “I don’t mean to get schmaltzy,” said co-star Gary Sandy, who plays Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, “but I really respect her professionalism. Getting the chance to work with her is just too much.”

The production continues through today at the center before moving to the next stop on a 40-city tour. --A.C.

Coming Up:

* Olympic gold medalists George Foreman and Tom Dolan will be honored by Barlow Respiratory Hospital at its 100th anniversary benefit featuring soprano Dale Kristien on Saturday at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets, $250. Call (818) 242-9108.

* Producer Darren Star, HBO and the Trevor Project will be honored by the Human Rights Campaign, Los Angeles, at its gala at the Century Plaza Hotel on Saturday. Tickets, $250-$325. Call (310) 201-5033.

* The Children’s Burn Foundation’s seventh annual “Giving New Hope” dinner will honor Brindell Gottlieb and Sheila Weisman on Feb. 27 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Tickets, $250. Call (818) 907-2822.

Information for Social Circuits can be directed to Patt Diroll in Los Angeles or Ann Conway in Orange County. Diroll is at pattdiroll@earthlink.net; Conway at ann.conway@latimes.com, or (714) 966-5952.